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Monday, April 18, 2011

I finally was able to talk to Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello today about some of the important questions facing the team this off-season after missing the playoffs for the first time since 1995-96.

I addressed the goaltending prospects in the previous post. Here’s the rest:

What can you say about the importance of Zach Parise to the organization and the importance of re-signing him?“I don’t think I can say anymore than anybody else can say. He’s an integral part, has been since he’s been here and in everybody’s mind he will continue to be that. So, we’ll do everything we possibly can as expeditious as possible.”

{I checked in with Parise via e-mail today and he said contract talks have not begun yet}

How about potential unrestricted free agents such as defenseman Andy Greene and Johan Hedberg?“They’ve all done well. Andy is certainly someone who we want back and certainly Hedberg we want back. He did an exceptional job. All of these things have to be handled accordingly.”

Is it too early to tell if you will make qualifying offers to all of your potential restricted free agents?“Too early to tell.”

Have you begun your coaching search yet or are you still doing your end-of-season evaluation before moving forward?“Everything is being addressed at different times. You certainly don’t put anything on the shelf if you can address it. It’s an ongoing process in all areas.”

One of the areas that Jacques Lemaire mentioned as needing improvement was personnel on defense. Do you agree with that?“We said that all along. Our defense, you can’t have three or four people out of the lineup and expect young kids to not only survive, but take the lead. So, we have to address that. Overall, we have to address a couple of offensive situations from defense too. And when that’s addressed, then other areas have to be looked at."

Do you feel the team needs to upgrade its puck-moving skill on defense?“I don’t think there’s any question that that’s something we’re looking at.”

Has it been strange doing your end-of-season evaluation while the first round of the playoffs got underway last week?“It is different. Unfortunately, as I said all along, you just accept it and go forward. I guess when I say accept it, it’s reality and you don’t look back. You just simply do the things that you have time to do right now. I’ve been watching prospects right now, especially with the situation we’re in with where we draft and I’ll spend time seeing the (players in) juniors.”

You always look at prospects, but are you looking at a different level of prospect this year with the team having the No. 4 pick following the win in the draft lottery last week?“There’s no question. There are always players in different categories and decisions have to be made, but our scouting staff in my opinion does as good a job as anyone if not better. The focus turns a little different towards players you have a chance of getting. Other years you know there are certain players you don’t have a chance of getting and you sort of target those areas. You never know in case a trade is made, but now it’s real.”

Is it too early to tell as far what position you’d like to target with the pick or will you just take the best player available?“That’s never going to be talked about until the pick is made.”

If there was a positive to the way your season went, would it be the amount of time young players such as Mattias Tedenby, Jacob Josefson, Mark Fayne and Nick Palmieri got to play at the NHL level under Jacques Lemaire?“I never draw a positive out of a negative, but there’s no question they were given opportunities, certainly premature. I would have never felt any different (about them) if they stayed in the minors and played longer because I always feel that is the best thing for them as far as their development. They were rushed and they could have been hurt as much as helped. In their cases, their maturity showed and it certainly fast forwarded their progress, but I still always think that it’s better to come up too late than too soon under all circumstances. But they handled it very well.”

Do you think it did help or is it too early to tell?“Too early to tell. It should have helped. There’s no question right now that they’ve shown bright spots and shown that they can play, but I’m very cautiously optimistic about it because of their mental approach after being here. The second year is tough and how they approach getting ready for the second year is going to play a major role.”

What is the status of your NHL assistant coaches following Lemaire’s departure and the coaching staff in Albany?“Everything is being evaluated. That doesn’t mean anything either way, so don’t read into it.”

Were you disappointed in the season the Albany Devils had (they finished last overall in the AHL with 70 points)?“I don’t know how we could be disappointed when so many of the Albany kids were in New Jersey. It’s unfortunate with the team they would have had on paper. All you have to do is look at them.”

Do you expect any of your prospects that are in college to turn pro?“We will not be pressuring that. If they come out it will be their decision.”

About

TOM GULITTI has covered the New Jersey Devils for The Record since 2002. Prior to that, he covered the New York Rangers for four years. Gulitti joined The Record in 1998 after six years at The North Jersey Herald News. He graduated from Binghamton University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in Rhetoric-Literature.